Dubai: Dar Al Ber Society, one of the UAE’s foremost charity, has distributed over 130,000 meals to workers struggling because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in UAE.

Dar Al Ber Society said they have formed a task force to identify and reach out to workers across various labour accommodations in the country.

They are provided, breakfast, lunch and dinner and can choose from vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.

Dar Al Ber Society said they practice the highest standards of food hygiene and safety and maintain social distancing while preparing and delivering the meal packets.

Camp supervisors are instructed not to let people gather to collect the meals. The packets are instead handed to camp supervisors who then deliver them to workers inside their accommodation.

“Thanks to Dar Al Ber Society, we get breakfast, lunch and dinner meals at our doorsteps This is a big relief for all of us at this time”, said Hareyram, a supervisor at a workers’ accommodation in Muhaisnah

The charity has been also distributing hygiene kits consisting of sanitisers, face masks, soaps, toothpaste, toothbrush.

Dr Hisham Al Zahrani, deputy director, social sector, Dar Al Ber Society said providing food to the needy is one of the main focus of their humanitarian activities. He said those wanting to be part of the initiative could contact them at [email protected] or contribute directly to Dar Al Ber Society’s Dubai Islamic Bank account 003520443195201 (IBAN: AE800240003520443195201

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Dubai: The repatriation process of Pakistanis stranded in the UAE has begun as a special PIA flight carrying the first batch of 200 passengers is scheduled to take off on Saturday evening from Dubai International Airport.

The flight is expected to depart from Terminal 1 of the Dubai Airport after 6pm on April 18. More special flights will be announced later. A PIA official clarified that the schedule for the 11 special flights, which was announced on Thursday between UAE and Pakistan, stands cancelled; a new flight plan will be announced in a day or so.

“The Pakistan government is working on a new plan for special flights including PIA and the UAE-based airlines,” said a senior diplomat. “Most probably, more special flights will start from April 20 but I must advise stranded people to be patient and wait for the announcement,” he said.

A large number of stranded Pakistanis gathered outside their consulate even on Friday and Saturday demanding the consulate send them back. Some of them were even carrying their bags as they said they have no place to live. Most of them who gathered outside the consulate are those who came on visit visas or lost jobs and want to go home.

More than 40,000 Pakistanis have registered with their consulate demanding to go back home. They included those who came on visit visas those who lost jobs, those who were asked to go on unpaid leave and also those who want to go home for the holidays.

Pakistan Consul General Ahmed Amjad Ali appealed to the stranded Pakistanis last week not to come to the consulate violating the travel restrictions imposed in Dubai. He said that the consulate has the data of all those who have registered to go back home.

The consulate is calling people according to the priority. “We have already booked 200 passengers for the flight on Saturday and will call more people as soon as more special flights are announced,” said another consulate official.

Consul General Ali said everyone who has registered with the consulate or the embassy would be repatriated but they will have to wait as it would take time to send them back home due to limited flight operation. He revealed that the number of people who have registered with the consulate demanding to go back home has jumped to 40,000. “The repatriation process has begun but you will have to wait for you turn,” he reiterated.

Meanwhile, Pakistan government is working on plans to increase the capacity of airport to receive up to 8000 passengers per week from abroad. Every passenger who arrive in Pakistan will have to stay in quarantine for at least seven days.

Earlier, Shahid Ali Moghal, PIA’s Regional Manager in UAE, told Gulf News: “Initially, the special PIA flights will be operated from Dubai to Islamabad but later it will start landing at other airports  as soon as the necessary arrangements for quarantine of passengers are finalised. 

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Dubai: Repatriation process of Pakistanis stranded in the UAE has begun as a special PIA flight carrying the first batch of 200 passengers  is scheduled to take off on Saturday evening from Dubai International Airport. 

The flight is expected to departed from Terminal 1 of the Dubai Airport after 6pm on April 18.  More special flights will be announced later. A PIA official clarified that the schedule for the 11 special flights which was announced on Thursday between UAE and Pakistan stands cancelled as a new flight plan will be announced in a day or so.

“The Pakistan government is working on new plan for special flights including PIA and the UAE-based airlines,” said a senior diplomat. “Most probably, more special flights will start from April 20 but I must advise stranded people to be patient and wait for the announcementmm,” he said.

A large number of stranded Pakistanis gathered outside their consulate even on Friday and Saturday demanding the consulate to send them back. Some of them were even carrying their bags as they said they have no place to live. Most of them who gathered outside the consulate are those who came on visit visas or lost jobs and want to go home. 

More than 40,000 Pakistanis have registered with their consulate demanding to go back home. They included those who came on visit visas those who lost jobs, those who were asked to go on unpaid leave and also those who want to go home on holidays.

Pakistan Consul General Ahmed Amjad Ali appealed to the stranded Pakistanis last week not to come to the consulate violating the travel restrictions imposed in Dubai. He said that the consulate has the data of all those who have registered to go back home.

The consulate is calling people according to the priority. “We have already booked 200 passengers for the flight on Saturday and will call more people as soon as more special flights are announced,” said another consulate official.

Consul General Ali said everyone who has registered with the consulate or the embassy would be repatriated but they will have to wait as it would take time to send them back home due to limited flight operation. He revealed that the number of people who have registered with the consulate demanding to go back home has jumped to 40,000. “The repatriation process has begun but you will have to wait for you turn,” he reiterated.

Meanwhile, Pakistan government is working on plans to increase the capacity of airport to receive up to 8000 passengers per week from abroad. Every passenger who arrive in Pakistan will have to stay in quarantine for at least seven days.

Earlier, Shahid Ali Moghal, PIA’s Regional Manager in UAE, told Gulf News: “Initially, the special PIA flights will be operated from Dubai to Islamabad but later it will start landing at other airports  as soon as the necessary arrangements for quarantine of passengers are finalised. 

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Dubai: It was 4pm on a weekday and Michael James Rojas was waiting for his friends who are also volunteers. They have been going around the city, moving from house to house, asking residents what they need and also actively disseminating information on coronavirus (COVID-19).

The task is both taxing and fulfilling they said. They too are afraid to get infected by the virus but they take pride and satisfaction in being volunteers who support the country’s first line defenders in the fight against the global pandemic.

“It’s the joy of being of service to the community no matter the risk,” Rojas explained in one sentence.

“There was a call to serve and we heeded the call,” added the 46-year old Filipino expat who has been a Dubai resident since 2006.

“We are helping our neighbors. We go around the community and ask the residents what they need and in turn we inform the authorities. People, particularly our kababayan (compatriots), find it easier to convey their needs because we talk the same language,” Rojas, who works as a senior occupational health and safety inspection officer, told Gulf News.

“We are embraced with warmth everytime we hand out a warm meal or simply ask them what they want. We find residents very supportive of the initiative because they really feel they are cared for,” he added.

Big role

Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, underscored the importance of volunteerism, which she said in these exceptional circumstances “is a national duty that we must respond to as part of our personal, national and moral responsibility, and as a way to give back to our beloved nation that provides us with so much.”

“Volunteers are capable of playing a role no less important than the pivotal role played by medical and health teams in the field during these times, under the umbrella of a proper support and follow-up system to achieve optimal results,” added Obaid Al Shamsi, director general of the National Emergency and Crisis and Disasters Management Authority.

Al Shamsi pointed out “there are dozens of volunteering opportunities in the field in medical, health and community specialities across the UAE.

“Everyone who has the ability and will to give back to the country with his skills and expertise, can select the right opportunity to do so and join the field teams who are working hard and remaining hopeful to beat coronavirus soon,” he added.

As loyal as UAE citizens

Ibrahim Robel Beltran, one of the team leaders of Filipino volunteers, said: “We are as loyal as the UAE citizens.”

“During this crucial time of global crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, now is the time for us to return the generosity of the UAE. As expats, we need to fight this unseen enemy side by side with the authorities, its people and the UAE government that welcomed, accepted, respected and took care of us,” Beltran told Gulf News.

“We need to return that goodness with the noble deed of volunteering to ensure the safety of everyone,” he added.

Beltran said there are 25 of them in the group, distributed in various clusters in Al Rafa, Mankhool, Al Fahidi and other areas in Bur Dubai. Other volunteer groups composed of various nationalities are also distributed across the city.

Community watch

“What we do as volunteers is we assist authorities in reminding the people to follow the precautionary measures, such as wearing face mask and hand gloves; and to adhere to the social distancing protocol, and most importantly to stay at home,” Beltran shared.

The volunteers are also crucial in data gathering and contact tracing.

Beltran said: “We are also reminding the people not to be afraid in reporting those persons showing symptoms of COVID-19 infections.

“We tell them to be always vigilant in their surroundings, to cooperate and call the relevant authorities for any findings and observation. The UAE government is always here to help us,” he underlined.

The UAE needs you

All UAE nationals and residents are invited to participate in #UAE _Volunteers to support the first line defenders in curbing COVID-19. Registration is done online

at: www.volunteers.ae, or by calling 800 – VOLAE (80086523), or e-mailing: [email protected].

UAE Volunteers is a campaign run by the Higher National Committee for Regulating Volunteering during Crisis to bring the entire nation together by mobilising volunteers in the fight against COVID-19. It was launched in collaboration with governmental and semi-governmental entities, as well as the private sector and public benefit associations.

All UAE nationals and residents over the age of 14 are able to participate, as well as organisations in the public and private sectors.

There are two types of volunteer work: Field Volunteering, a specialised volunteering opportunity for individuals with medical expertise and other specialisations that can assist authorities on frontlines in the field; and virtual volunteering or remote volunteering. Considering the risk involved with field initiatives, all individuals interested must check with specialised entities responsible for organising various activities.

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Dubai: Employers in the UAE cannot force employees to take unpaid leave or a reduction in their salaries without their consent, top legal experts have clarified.

Speaking to Gulf News on the fine print of the Ministerial Decision No. 279/2020 recently issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, they said a mutual agreement between the two parties is a must in the two scenarios.

They said employers are well within their rights to ask employees to work remotely or consume their annual/paid leave balances without seeking the employees’ consent. However, implementation of unpaid leave and amendment of employment contract for a temporary or permanent reduction in salary requires an agreement to be signed, with a permanent amendment being necessarily registered with MOHRE.

Act in good faith

Barney Almazar, director, corporate-commercial department, at Gulf Law, said, “We have been receiving around 200 queries a day both from employees and companies asking what can they can legally do to address the current crisis.”

He said, “My advice is to always have a dialogue. Both employers and employees should work together to find a mutually acceptable solution which must be fair to both sides. After all, this is only a temporary measure.”

He said, “Employers must be transparent and should act in good faith. Before taking drastic actions, they should first attempt to resolve the situation with lighter measures. What we are avoiding is a situation where the vulnerable is abused. In most of the companies I represent, the biggest pay cut is applied to the high level management, with some officers contributing their salaries to ensure rank and file employees have money for their families. In return, appreciative employees render extra hours waiving overtime pay.”

He said, “Employers must extend every possible assistance while employees should cooperate with the efforts of the company, think of the welfare of their colleagues and evaluate the chances of gaining new employment if they leave their present job. But in the unfortunate situation that the parties cannot mutually agree, the company has the right to terminate the employee. The employee is entitled to full end-of-service benefits.”

How employees are convinced

Addressing a specific question by an employer on how employees can be convinced to take unpaid leave for, say two months, due to the current situation, Mohammed Ebrahim Al Shaiba of Al Shaiba Advocates and Legal Consultants, said, “The act is legal if it is accompanied by the acceptance of the employee which means that there should be a mutual agreement between the two parties of the employment contract where the employee accepts this act in order to preserve the interests of both parties during the period of applying precautionary measures to limit the spread of the new coronavirus. This agreement can be in the form of a leave application or any kind of annexure where the employee expresses his acceptance.”

He said as per the UAE Federal Law No. 8 of 1980, regarding the regulation of labour relations and the Ministerial Decision No. 279 of 2020, mutual agreement between the two parties of the employment contract is essential in order to preserve the interests of both parties during the period of applying precautionary measures to limit the spread of the new coronavirus.

The way it works

The legal experts said the Ministerial Decision No. 279/2020 allows employers affected by the COVID-19 crisis to take certain measures progressively with regard to expatriate employees

Employer actions that do not require employees’ consent:

• Asking employees to work remotely, as applicable
• Ask employees to consume annual/paid leave balances

Employer actions that require employees’ consent:

• Implementation of unpaid leave
• Amendment of employment contract for a temporary reduction in salary: Here, the employer should retain an original copy of the amendment and provide the employee an original copy as well. The amendment must be readily available for inspection by MOHRE. The parties can agree on the duration of the reduction of salary, provided that the amendment are considered cancelled once the Ministerial Decision has been repealed. There is no need to go to MOHRE to execute the amendment.
•  Amendment of employment contract for a permanent reduction in salary: In this scenario, the amendment must be registered with MOHRE under the “employment contract details amendment” procedures since this is a permanent change in the salary of the employee.

Al Shaibha said, “In addition, based on the doctrinal principle of “no prejudice caused and no harm inflicted’, the employer is advised to have a mutual agreement and acceptance from the employee that preserve and suit the interests of both of them in order to adhere to law and to be protected in case a claim has been filed against him in the court.”

What are employers liable for?

The legal experts said employers are required to register any redundant workforce they have on the MOHRE’s Virtual Labour Market to allow them to be recruited by other employers. During this period of time and until the employee has left the UAE or joined another company, employers will remain liable for housing and all other entitlements except for salary.

They said employers can ask employees to take their annual leave—pursuant to Article 76 of the Labour Law.

“The employer may at his discretion determine the date for commencement of annual leaves and, when necessary, he may decide to divide the leave in two parts at the most, except in cases of juveniles where vacation may not be divided in parts,” said Almazar.

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Dubai: Voices of people singing the UAE national anthem echoed through communities and neighbourhoods on Friday night as the clock struck 9pm and residents came out on to their balconies to pay their respects to the nation.

The Together We Chant for UAE initiative was launched by the Maitha Bint Ahmed Al Nahyan Foundation and the National Happiness and Positivity Programme, in coordination with Abu Dhabi Police.

Earlier on April 15, UAE residents joined in to sing the national anthem, Ishy Biladi (Long Live My Country), at 9pm, with people taking to their balconies to wave the country’s flag and play musical instruments. A second call was made for everyone to join in once again on April 17 at 9pm.

This comes as communities pay their respects to the country’s first responders, including the medical staff, the municipality workers and the police departments as they come together to battle the COVID-19 global pandemic that has seen a total of 5,825 infections in the UAE as of April 16, with a total of Dh1,095 recoveries.

The Friday event saw residents taking to social media to post videos of people singing and cheering all around. Those who couldn’t sing, shared videos of the national anthem.

“In these difficult times, the UAE and its generous leadership has ensured that every possible support and extraordinary help is available to the people of the UAE, to expatriates before Emiratis. And not just the leadership, but also every official and government employee, no matter how senior or junior he or she is, is keen to extend full hand of support to everybody,” Emirati writer Hassan Sajwani told Gulf News.

He continued: “Yes, this is the UAE that our late father Sheikh Zayed envisioned for. And this positive national thinking is spreading faster than the virus. A ‘Thank you’ will never be enough for this great nation and its leadership.”

The Together We Chant for UAE initiative also came hours after Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, chaired by Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced that the round-the-clock sterilisation programme in the emirate will be extended for an additional week.

The committee’s decision to extend the 24-hour sterilisation programme, which first came into effect on April 4, is part of its efforts to heighten precautionary measures against COVID-19.

Last month, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, praised the commitment of expatriate residents who have patiently adhered to all the precautionary measures that have been taken to limit the spread of coronavirus in the country.

In a video message, Sheikh Mohamed also stated that he turned emotional when he heard expatriate residents singing the UAE’s national anthem from the balconies and windows of their homes during such a challenging time.

“My eyes were almost full of tears when I heard about expatriates singing our national anthem, with videos circulating on social media,” said Sheikh Mohamed at the time.

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It’s a foggy morning across the UAE. The National Centre of Meteorology issues a yellow and read weather warning across the country for thich to moderate fog and decreased horizontal visibility.

Motorists are advised to be careful on the road. Thick fog is experienced mainly in the internal areas of Abu Dhabi as shown by heat maps shared on Instagram.

The weather will be fair to partly cloudy in general, according to the weather bureau.

Temperatures across the country had seen a dip due to rains last week, however, there will be a gradual increase in temperatures. Maximum temperatures in the country will be 34-37°C in internal areas, 31-34°C in coastal areas, and in mountainous areas temperatures will continue to reach a maximum of 18-22°C.

A light to moderate breeze is expected across the country at the speed of 15-25km/hr going up to a maximum of 35km/hr.

Relativite Humidity across the country will be high and hit up to 85-95 percent in the coastal and internal areas. 

 Sea will be slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and in Oman Sea.

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It’s a foggy morning across the UAE. The National Centre of Meteorology issues a yellow and read weather warning across the country for thich to moderate fog and decreased horizontal visibility.

Motorists are advised to be careful on the road. Thick fog is experienced mainly in the internal areas of Abu Dhabi as shown by heat maps shared on Instagram.

The weather will be fair to partly cloudy in general, according to the weather bureau.

Temperatures across the country had seen a dip due to rains last week, however, there will be a gradual increase in temperatures. Maximum temperatures in the country will be 34-37°C in internal areas, 31-34°C in coastal areas, and in mountainous areas temperatures will continue to reach a maximum of 18-22°C.

A light to moderate breeze is expected across the country at the speed of 15-25km/hr going up to a maximum of 35km/hr.

Relativite Humidity across the country will be high and hit up to 85-95 percent in the coastal and internal areas. 

 Sea will be slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and in Oman Sea.

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Abu Dhabi: The UAE on Friday announced 477 new cases of COVID-19, while two patients have died and another 93 have recovered.

According to the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the latest cases were detected after conducting more than 24,000 COVID-19 tests.

This brings the total number of cases diagnosed in the country to 6,302, while there have been 1,188 recoveries and 37 deaths so far.

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Dubai: Voices of people singing the UAE national anthem echoed through communities and neighbourhoods on Friday night as the clock struck 9pm and residents came out on to their balconies to pay their respects to the nation.

The Together We Chant for UAE initiative was launched by the Maitha Bint Ahmed Al Nahyan Foundation and the National Happiness and Positivity Programme, in coordination with Abu Dhabi Police.

Earlier on April 15, UAE residents joined in to sing the national anthem, Ishy Biladi (Long Live My Country), at 9pm, with people taking to their balconies to wave the country’s flag and play musical instruments. A second call was made for everyone to join in once again on April 17 at 9pm.

This comes as communities pay their respects to the country’s first responders, including the medical staff, the municipality workers and the police departments as they come together to battle the COVID-19 global pandemic that has seen a total of 5,825 infections in the UAE as of April 16, with a total of Dh1,095 recoveries.

The Friday event saw residents taking to social media to post videos of people singing and cheering all around. Those who couldn’t sing, shared videos of the national anthem.

“In these difficult times, the UAE and its generous leadership has ensured that every possible support and extraordinary help is available to the people of the UAE, to expatriates before Emiratis. And not just the leadership, but also every official and government employee, no matter how senior or junior he or she is, is keen to extend full hand of support to everybody,” Emirati writer Hassan Sajwani told Gulf News.

He continued: “Yes, this is the UAE that our late father Sheikh Zayed envisioned for. And this positive national thinking is spreading faster than the virus. A ‘Thank you’ will never be enough for this great nation and its leadership.”

The Together We Chant for UAE initiative also came hours after Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, chaired by Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced that the round-the-clock sterilisation programme in the emirate will be extended for an additional week.

The committee’s decision to extend the 24-hour sterilisation programme, which first came into effect on April 4, is part of its efforts to heighten precautionary measures against COVID-19.

Last month, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, praised the commitment of expatriate residents who have patiently adhered to all the precautionary measures that have been taken to limit the spread of coronavirus in the country.

In a video message, Sheikh Mohamed also stated that he turned emotional when he heard expatriate residents singing the UAE’s national anthem from the balconies and windows of their homes during such a challenging time.

“My eyes were almost full of tears when I heard about expatriates singing our national anthem, with videos circulating on social media,” said Sheikh Mohamed at the time.

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